6 Ways to Make Your Living Room Look More Spacious
These interior designers' simple strategies can open up a cramped area—no sledgehammers, permits or weekend-long DIY projects necessary.
By Candace Braun Davison
Find the Right Sidekick
By all means, go for the oversize, comfy couch—but choose slimmer seating options. We don't mean spindly, delicate furniture (it'll look out of proportion), but maybe a slipper chair instead of a set of big, leather club chairs. Speaking of the sofa, Olson recommends choosing a bench-seat style. Since this has one long, continuous cushion instead of individual seats, people can choose where to sit—and how much personal space to give those they're sitting next to. People rarely sit in the middle cushion on three-seat petite sofas, she explains, and they're even less likely to sit on the crack between two cushions.
Published 11/27/2013